21 with drum brake

Anyone running a 21" front wheel with drum brake. How did you go about it? Is there an easy swap from say an old dirt bike? Whats the options?
jefft

I'm getting reading to put a 21" from a 1973 DT250 on my XS bobber.

All you have to do is swap out the bearings and then drill the shoe-side of the drum... I'm sure i'll have to make some spacers and a stay to keep the drum in place but I dont think that should be hard.

The bearings in a DT250 wheel are 35x15x11 and the bearings I'm switching to are 35x17x10. (6003). The spacer that goes in between the bearings in the wheel will have to be 2mm longer than stock so that the bearings fit flush.

the DT brake was adequate for it's intended purpose (light weight dirt bike) but it will be woefully inadequate on a 650 street machine (might keep you from rolling once stopped) if you're going to a drum front consider a double shoe off a mid 70's Honda 350/450/500

I think Hugh had set one up using parts from an XR 250 but I can't find the article. It required some machining.
jefft

Jayel is Right.
I used a drum from a '79 Honda XL500 and it's just as he says. Inadequete.

There are lots of good drum brakes wheels out there. Triumph is one. I just sold a 19" off a '72 for $75 in great shape. Should be a direct bolt on (5/8" axle). If not a custom axle can be made. Same with other Japanese manufacturers, they all had drums at one point.
Rick.